Method of assembling a billiard cue



March 11,1969 R. w. MILLER ETAL 3,431,628

METHOD OF ASSEMBLING A BILLIARD CUE 4 Original Filed June '7. 1963 FIG,

INVENTORS MPHAEL WMILLER ARQLD Jgf/ORST B ki n-y' Mun/J ATTORNEY5 United States Patent 3 431,628 METHOD OF ASSEMBLING A BILLIARD CU E Raphael W. Miller, 1406 W. Franklin St., Jackson, Mich. 49203, and Harold J. Worst, 4331 Curwood St, Grand Rapids, Mich. 49508 Original application June 7, 1963, Ser. No. 286,323, now Patent No. 3,269,730, dated Aug. 30, 1966. Divided and this application May 16, 1966, Ser. No. 550,534 US. Cl. 29-450 2 Claims Int. Cl. B21d 39/04; A63d 15/08 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention pertains to a method of assembling billiard cues, and particularly relates to the method of assemblying a tubular resilient handgrip to the billiard cue in a manner which produces a most attractive assembly.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a division of our copending United States application Ser. No. 286,323, filed June 7, 1963, now Patent 3,269,730.

An object of the invention is to provide a method of assembling a continuous wall, tubular handgrip of elastic and relatively high frictional characteristics on a billiard cue. Handgrips of rubber, leather, and various synthetic materials have been commonly used as handgrips on billiard cues. However, such handgrips are not of a continuous wall type and require a seam extending in the longitudinal direction of the cue. As the presence of the seam is objectionable from the appearance, feel and functional standpoints, a significant contribution to the art presented by the instant invention lies in an assembly method which permits a tubular handgrip of resilient material to be firmly assembled to the cue and eliminates the necessity for the above-described seam.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method for assembling a tubular billiard cue handgrip to the handle portion of a billiard cue, whereby the handgrip intimately engages and conforms to the configuration of the handle portion.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a method of assembly of a tubular, elastic hand'grip to a billiard cue handle portion wherein the handgrip is of a normal diameter less than the diameter of the handle portion, yet assembly is readily accomplished due to the increasing of the diameter of the handgrip by the inflation thereof.

These and other objects of the invention arising from the details and relationships of the components used in the practice of the invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings where- FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a two-piece billiard cue employing the inventive concepts,

FIG. 2 is a detail, elevational, sectional, exploded view of the abutting ends of the handle portion components and illustrating the use of a balance weight,

FIG. 3 is a detail, elevational, sectional view of the components of FIG. 2 as assembled,

FIG. 4 is an elevational, sectional view taken along section IV-IV of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a detail, elevational, sectional view of the assembly of another embodiment of the invention, wherein a balance weight is not employed,

FIG. 6 is an elevational, sectional view of the rear handle portion and apparatus employed to assemble the handgrip to the handle portion, illustrating the initial phase of the assembly operation, and

FIG. 7 is an elevational, sectional view of the handgrip and handle portion assembly apparatus upon completion of the assembling operation.

The concepts of the invention may be employed with either one or two-piece billiard cues. For purposes of description, a two-piece billiard one is shown in FIG. 1. The illustrated billiard cue includes a tip portion 10 and a handle portion 12. The tip and the handle portions are interconnected by a conventional screw coupling means employed in conjunction with the typical collars 14 at the joined ends of the tip and handle portions. The cue is employed in the normal manner, whereby the tip and handle portions are interconnected, as shown in FIG. 1, when the cue is to be used, and the portions 10 and 12 are uncoupled by unthreading the screw coupling when the one is to be transported or stored.

While the present invention primarily pertains to the method of assembling a billiard cue and its handgrip, the handgrip is mounted on the handle portion such that an end of the handgrip coincides with a cue joint line defining rear and forward portions of the handle portion and, thus, a description of the structure uniting the rear and forward handle portions is included in the following disclosure and the relationship between the cue handle portions and handgrip is claimed.

The handle portion 12 consists of a rear or butt portion 16 and a forward portion 18. In the case of the twopiece billiard cue, the forward portion 18 includes the screw coupling at its free end for connection to the tip portion 10. In a one-piece billiard cue construction, the component, hereafter referred to as the forward handle portion, would terminate at its smallest end at the cue tip.

With reference to FIG. 1, the rear handle portion 16 includes an exterior surface 20 immediately adjacent the end 22 of the handle portion. A tubular handgrip 24 encompasses the handle portion throughout a portion of its axial length, and ornamental ribbing 26 may be formed on the outer surface 28 of the forward handle portion 18. In accordance with typical billiard cue construction, the cue is of a conical configuration throughout its length, converging from the end 22 toward the tip.

The rear handle portion 16 includes a conical handgripreceiving surface 30, as best shown in FIG. 6. The handgrip-receiving surface 30 intersects a radially extending shoulder 32 which, in turn, intersects the exterior, rear handle portion surface 20. The small diameter end 34 of the rear handle portion 16 is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rear handle portion, and a cylindrical socket 36 is concentrically defined within the rear handle portion intersecting end 34. The axial depth of the socket 36 is dependent on whether the billiard cue is to employ the balance weight shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, or the screw dowel shown in the embodiment of FIG. 5. The socket 36 terminates in a bottom wall 38, and a screw-starting opening 40 is, preferably, formed in the bottom wall.

The end 42 of the forward handle portion 18, which is to be joined to the rear handle portion, includes a reduced diameter to define a projection 44, having a terminating end surface 45, which intersects the radial shotulder 46 extending to the exterior surface 28 The projection 44 is of a cylindrical configuration and of a diameter to be closely received within the socket 36. A screw-starting hole 48 is preferably defined in the end 42 of the forward handle portion 18.

The tubular handgrip 24 is mounted on the handgripreceiving surface 30 of the rear handle portion. The handgrip 24 is, preferably, formed of a tube of elastic synthetic material which is of an attractive appearance, durable, and has the frictional and feel characteristics desirable with a handgrip of this type. An endof the handgrip 24 abuts the shoulder 32 and the radial dimension of the shoulder 32 substantially equals the wall thickness of the handgrip tube. Thus, the exterior surface of the handgrip adjacent the shoulder 32 corresponds to the diameter of the exterior, rear handle portion surface 20, resulting in a flush surface between the exterior of the handgrip portion 16 and the handgrip exterior surface. In a like manner, the diameter of the forward handle portion surface 28 at the shoulder 46 is of a dimension greater than the diameter of the handgrip-receiving surface 30 immediately adjacent the end 34 which will produce a flush and coinciding joint between the other handgrip end exterior surface and the surface 28 at the shoulder 46, as will be apparent in FIGS. 3 and 5.

The embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 4 employs a weight 50 of a cylindrical construction adapted to be received within the socket 36 and add mass to the cue. Screws 52 are located on the weight 50 and extend from the ends thereof, having wood screw threads formed thereon. After the handgrip 24 has been assembled on the receiving surface 30 and trimmed flush with the end 34, glue or other bonding material is, preferably, applied to the projection 44 and the weight 50. Thereupon, the weight 50 may be inserted in the socket 36 and the end of the projection 44 is, likewise, inserted in the socket. Relative rotation of the rear and forward handle portions 16 and 18, respectively, will thread the associated screw 52 into the hole 40 of the rear handle portion, while simultaneously threading the associated screw 52 into the hole 48 of the forward handle portion. Relative rotation of the handle portions is continued until the end 34 of the rear handle portion albuttingly engages the shoulder 46 of the forward handle portion in the manner shown in FIG. 3.

The above interconnection thereby locates the weight 50 in the rear handle portion 16 adjacent the forward handle portion 18 to produce a most effective weight distribution and balance. At the same time, the screws 52 produce a tension between the rear and forward portions in the axial direction maintaining a firm abutment of the ends 34 and 42, thereby insuring the axial alignment of the rear and forward handle portions.

The fact that the projection 44 extends into the socket 36 and is closely associated therewith and cemented thereto, likewise, significantly contributes to the interconnection of the rear and forward handle portions. Due to the interrelationship of the weight 50 with the socket 36 and the rear and forward handle portions, there is no likelihood that the weight will be able to shift or move relative to the rear end portion within the socket.

FIG. discloses the inventive concept employed in lightweight cues and components similar to those previously described are indicated by primes. In lightweight billiard cues, it is not desirable that a weight be employed and in such instances, the socket 36 is formed as shown in FIG. 5. Thus, the socket 36' is of an axial depth only sufficient to receive the projection 44 formed on the forward handle portion 18. As shown in FIG. 5, annular glue-receiving grooves 54 may be defined on the exterior of the projection 44 to facilitate the application and retention of the bonding means on the exterior of the projection. A screw dowel pin 56 having wood threads formed on each end thereof is concentrically located within the handle portion and interconnects the forward and rear handle portions by providing a tension force interposed therebetween, maintaining firm engagement of the end 3 4' and the shoulder 46'. It will be appreciated that the embodiment of FIG. 5 also permits the handle portion 12 to be formed of both the rear and forward portions wherein the handgrip 24' may be assembled to the rear portion in the manner later described.

In the previously described construction, it will be appreciated that the two-part construction of the handle portion 12 will not be apparent to the observer. The joint line between the rear and forward handle portions is that defined by the abutment of the smaller end of the handgrip with the shoulder 46. Thus, the described construction camouflages the two-part construction of the cue handle portion 12. As the exterior surface of the handgrip is fliush with the associated surfaces of the handle portion, a smooth and pleasing appearance and feel is provided.

The handgrip 24 is assembled to the rear handle portion 16 in the following manner described with regard to FIGS. 6 and 7. A tubular casing 58 of a rigid wall construction is formed with a bore 60 of a conical configuration which is only slightly larger in diametrical dimension than, and in similar configuration to, the exterior surface of the handgrip 24, after the handgrip is assembled on handgripreceiving surface 30. The lower end of the bore 60 is provided with an abutment surface 62, and the upper end of the bore is open. A compressed air conduit 64 communicates with the bore 60 at the abutment surface 62. It will be appreciated that the smallest diameter of the bore 60 is adjacent the abutment surface 62.

To assemble the handgrip on the handgrip-receiving surface 30 of the rear handle portion 16, the smaller diameter end 34 of the rear handle portion is started into an end of the handgrip tube 24. The normal configuration of the handgrip tube is that of a cylinder having an internal diameter which is slightly less than the external diameter of the handgrip-receiving surface 30 adjacent the end 34. Thus, the minimum diameter end of the handgripreceiving surface 30 must be forced, to a slight extent, into the end of the handgrip tube 24 to assume the relationship shown in FIG. 6.

With the handgrip tube 24 received within the casing bore 60 in such a manner that the lower end thereof engages the abutment surface 62, and the rear handle portion 16 inserted in the upper end of the tube 24, as in FIG. 6, compressed air is introduced into the bore 60 through the conduit 64. The introduction of the compressed air into the tube causes the resilient handgrip tube 24 to inflate and radially expand a limited degree. Simultaneously with the expansion of the handgrip tube, the compressed air will escape from the interior of the handgrip tube between the inner surface of the tube and the handgrip-receiving surface 30 inserted within the tube. The escaping air functions as a lubricant and antifriction film which, in combination with the inflation of the tube, permits the rear handle portion 16 to be inserted in a downwardly direction into the handgrip tube, as shown in FIG. 7. The close conformity of the tube 24 and bore 60 prevents axial and radial buckling of the tube as the handle portion 16 is inserted therein. Engagement of the shoulder 32 with the upper end of the handgrip tube limits further insertion of the handgrip-receiving surface into the tube. The axial length of the handgrip tube 24 is greater than that of the handgrip-receiving surface 30, as will be apparent from FIG. 7, and upon removal of the assembled rear handle portion and handgrip tube, the handgrip tube is trimmed flush 'with the end 34. After the handgrip tube has been assembled to the rear handle portion, the rear and forward handle portions 16 and 18 may be assembled in the manner described above.

It will be appreciated that as the normal internal diameter of the handgrip tube 24 is less than the minimum diameter of the handgrip-receiving surface 30, the handgrip tube will intimately contact the handgrip-receiving surface conforming to the configuration thereof throughout its length. The resilient nature of the handgrip tube will produce a tight grip on the handgrip-receiving surface and prevent rotation of the handgrip relative to the rear handle portion 16.

It is appreciated that various modifications to the invention may be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and it is intended that the invention be defined only by the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. The method of constructing a billard cue having a continuous wall handgrip of elastic material comprising the steps of forming the cue into a first handle portion and a second handle portion adapted to be affixed to the first handle portion, forming a conical handgrip-receiving surface on said first handle portion having a large diameter end and a small diameter end, said large diameter end defining a shoulder on said first handle portion of a radial dimension substantially equal to the Wall thickness of the handgrip, said small diameter end constituting an end of said first handle portion and being of a radial dimension to define a shoulder with said second handle portion substantially equal to the wall thickness of the handgrip, placing an end of a continuous wall, elastic, tubular handgrip having an axial length greater than the axial length of said handgrip-receiving surface and a normal inner diameter slightly less than that of said small diameter end on the small diameter end of said first handle portion, supporting the handgrip against axial and radial buckling, simultaneously inflating said handgrip with compressed air sufiiciently to radially expand said handgrip and permit compressed air to escape from the interior of said handgrip between said handgrip-receiving surface and that portion of the handgrip received upon said surface and axially inserting said first handle portion into said handgrip until said end of the handgrip being inserted over said handgrip-receiving surface engages the shoulder defined by said large diameter end, trimming said handgrip flush with the small diameter end of said first handle portion, and afiixing said second handle portion to the small diameter end of said first handle portion and into engagement with the trimmed end of said handgrip, whereby said first and second handle portions are of a unitary appearance and the outer surface of said handgrip coincides with the exterior surfaces of said first and second handle portions.

2. The method of constructing a billiard cue as in claim 1 comprising the step of axially abutting the end of the handgrip remote from the end of the handgrip placed on the small diameter against an abutment surface to form a sealed relationship therewith, said compressed air being introduced into said handgrip through said abutment surface.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,147,705 7/1915 Campbell 273-68 1,459,144 6 1923 Davenport et al. 273-68 2,645,004 7/1953 Dorner 29450 3,138,859 6/1964 Edwards 29-450 CHARLIE T. MOON, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 29526 

